UK helicopter pilot numbers dropping - why?
Dear All,
I was looking at the CAA stats on pilot numbers (those with an active medical cert) by license type over the last few years. Starting in 2015, there has been a consistent drop of 100 per year of ATPL(H) and CPL(H) combined numbers, with CPL forming the larger part of the drop. PPL(H) have dropped on average 91 per year, but the yearly numbers fluctuate widely.
What are the views on why the steady downward trend in professional numbers? Poaching by airlines, lack of vacancies (maybe drones picking up the work instead), or the lack of new blood through (as shown by the almost matching drop in PPL? Thoughts? Are we on trajectory of the mythical pilot shortage or are the jobs just not out there with sufficient renumeration \ quality of life?
Regards